VISA TRIPLE CROWN NOMINATIONS TOTAL 358 - The early roster of 3-year-old Thoroughbreds nominated to the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) and Visa Triple Crown includes the names of 358 horses, including 2004 juvenile colt and filly champions Declan's Moon and Sweet Catomine and Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Wilko.

The nomination total is the smallest since 1996 and reflects a drop of 20 percent from the record nomination total recorded two years ago. The decline is attributed to the impact of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome ("MRLS"), which took the lives of an estimated 1700 foals in Kentucky in 2002 - the birth year of this crop of 3-year-olds.

"The dip in nominations to the Visa Triple Crown and the $5 million Visa Triple Crown Challenge was not unexpected," said Edward P. Seigenfeld, executive vice president of Triple Crown Productions. "This is the year in which MRLS was expected to be significant and our early nomination total reflects a similar drop in numbers for Breeders' Cup nominations for this crop of 3-year-olds."

The 358 horses were made eligible for the three-race series that includes the Derby, the Preakness (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI) when they were nominated at a cost of $600 by the early nomination deadline of Jan. 22. Horses may still be made eligible for the Visa Triple Crown if they are nominated by the late deadline of March 26, but the nomination fee will climb to $6,000. After that, a horse may be made a supplemental nominee to the Kentucky Derby at time of entry, but the supplemental fee at that point is $200,000.

Trainer Todd Pletcher nominated 34 horses, one shy of his record nomination total set in 2004. Overbrook Farm led all owners with nine nominations.

Most notable among the absences from the list of Visa Triple Crown nominations is Lost in the Fog, a dazzling winner of three sprint starts by a combined margin of 26 ¼-lengths.

The list of nominees includes 14 horses from overseas - including six from Dubai-based Godolphin. Sweet Catomine was one of seven fillies nominated and the list also includes a rare white horse. The White Fox was nominated by owner-breeder Patchen Wilkes Farm and is one of only five white horses in this year's crop of 3-year-olds.

EAST/CLOSING ARGUMENT, PROUD ACCOLADE, BANDINI IMPRESS AT GULFSTREAM PARK - Previously unbeaten High Fly returned to earth, while Closing Argument sealed the deal in Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) at Gulfstream Park.

Closing Argument, owned by Marcia and Philip Cohen, rallied from just off the pace to win the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby prep to headline a day of impressive performances by 3-year-olds at the Hallandale, Fla. track. The Florida-bred son of Successful Appeal won by 1 ½-lengths under jockey Cornelio Velasquez in his first start since a runner-up finish the $1 million Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. Pacesetter Kansas City Boy finished second, while favored High Fly finished a half-length farther back in third as he suffered his first defeat in four races.

"He just got a little tired late," said trainer Bill White. "We're certainly disappointed to lose, but I still think he ran a very good race."

Closing Argument, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, improved his career record to 3-2-1 in six races and boosted his earnings to $512,000. He covered the Holy Bull distance in 1:50.14.

Earlier, Padua Stable's Proud Accolade overcame traffic problems to snap a two-race losing streak with a 4 ½-length romp in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (GII).

The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Yes It's True, winner of the Champagne (GI) at Belmont Park last fall, dropped back to last when he was shut off while making a move along the rail with a half-mile remaining. But jockey John Velazquez guided Proud Accolade to the outside and the colt rallied for his fourth win in six career races.

Proud Accolade covered the 7 ½-furlong distance in 1:29.90. Park Avenue Ball finished second and Vicarage was third. Second choice Defer never threatened and finished fourth.

Another Pletcher-trained colt added his name to the list of Kentucky Derby contenders when Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bandini romped to a nine-length victory in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race. The son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus covered the distance in 1:51.03 for this second consecutive victory.

Another horse to watch may be Noble Causeway, who scored a two-length maiden victory for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito on Saturday's Gulfstream card. The son of European champion Giant's Causeway covered 1 1/8-miles in 1:51.49.

"Moon" Shines In Laurel's Miracle Wood - Malibu Moonshine rallied from just off the pace to win the $75,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Maryland's Laurel Park for 91-year-old owner Woodrow Marriott, the last surviving member of the family that started the Marriott hotel chain. The colt is trained by Maryland legend King T. Leatherbury, who saddled his first stakes winner in the state since 2001 and improved his career victory total to 6,059.

The Florida-bred Malibu Moonshine is a son of Malibu Moon, the hot sire of unbeaten juvenile champion Declan's Moon, and covered the mile distance in 1:40.25. The colt has won four of seven races and Leatherbury hopes to point Malibu Moonshine to the Preakness.

CALIFORNIA/LUKAS SCORES WITH GOING WILD; FUSAICHI SAMURAI OUT OF DERBY PICTURE - Four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas has missed only two renewals of the "Run for the Roses" since his debut in 1981 and a victory by Robert and Beverly Lewis' Going Wild in Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita indicates that the Hall of Fame trainer has a strong contender for the Kentucky Derby trail.

Racing for the first time at a two-turn distance, the son of Golden Missile led throughout in the 1 1/8-mile Sham distance to win by a length over Papi Chullo as favored Giacomo finished third. Victor Espinoza rode the winner, who covered the distance in 1:50.18. The Sham was the third consecutive victory for Going Wild, but his two previous wins had been at six furlongs.

"There was a slow pace the first half-mile and I kind of took advantage of that," Espinoza said. "By the three-eighths pole I figured out that I was in the lead by one or two lengths and nice and comfortable. I didn't want them to catch up with me so I opened it up right there as much as I could. I had to ride him a little bit hard at the end, but when I ride Wayne's horses I'm not afraid to let them run even a half-mile out."

The win was the third in six starts for Going Wild, who will bid to join Silver Charm (1997) and Charismatic ('99) as Kentucky Derby winners campaigned by the Lewises.

The Lewises also own another Kentucky Derby contender in Consolidator, who is expected to run next in the San Vicente (GII) on Feb. 13 at Santa Anita. Lukas said that Going Wild's next start could come in the Santa Catalina (GIII) on March 5.

Fusaichi Samurai Out Of Derby 131 Picture - Fusao Sekiguchi's Fusaichi Samurai, an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby off a victory in his only start, has been knocked off the Derby trail by a leg injury.

Trainer Neil Drysdale said that the son of Sekiguchi's 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus pulled a muscle in his left hind leg during a workout. Drysdale said Fusaichi Samurai would be given some time off.

Roman Ruler Works, Gets Bailey - Kentucky Derby 131 contender Roman Ruler tuned up for his season debut in the San Vicente with a sharp Sunday workout at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus breezed six furlongs from the gate in 1:11.40.

Baffert said that jockey Jerry Bailey would ride Roman Ruler in the San Vicente.

MIDWEST/SHIPPERS HEADING FOR RISEN STAR - A large field is expected for Saturday's $150,000 Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds - including several horses that will ship to the New Orleans track in hopes of boosting their Kentucky Derby credentials.

Local hopes are led by Storm Surge, winner of the Lecomte in his most recent start for trainer Dallas Stewart. But horses expected to ship to the Fair Grounds for the Risen Star include the Todd Pletcher-trained Harlington, an unbeaten son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled out of the great mare Serena's Song; California invader Buzzard's Bay, winner of the Golden Gate Derby for trainer Jeff Mullins last time out; and the Nick Zito-trained duo of Chief Commander and Electric Light.

Entries will be taken on Wednesday for the Risen Star and a strong schedule of supporting stakes races on the Saturday card at the Fair Grounds.

Snack Wins WEBN - Indiana-bred Snack rallied from last to score a three-length victory in the $50,000 WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park. The Mike Lauer-trained son of Afternoon Deelites scored his second stakes victory of the year to improve his career record to 4-2-2 in eight races. He has earned $103,000. Ramsey Zimmerman rode the winner, who covered the mile distance in 1:38.06. Favored Catch Me finished second. KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 1 FIELD OUT TUESDAY - The roster of wagering interests for Pool 1 of the 2005 Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be announced on Tues., Feb. 8 by Churchill Downs.

The first of three pools of the 2005 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW") is set to open its four-day run at Noon on Thursday, Feb. 10. The wagering interests for each of the KDFW pools will again by chosen by a three-member committee that includes Mike Watchmaker and Brad Free of the Daily Racing Form and John Asher, Churchill Downs' vice president for Communcations.

This is the seventh year for the Derby Future Wager, which allows racing fans across North America to wager on Kentucky Derby contenders at odds that could be higher than those they would receive on the day of the race. There are 24 wagering interests in each KDFW pool that include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field that includes all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools are also scheduled for March 10-13 and April 7-10.

Wagering in each of the KDFW opens at noon (all times Eastern) on Thursday of their respective weeks and close on Sunday. Each KDFW pool will close on Sunday at 6 p.m. A combined total of $1,282,168 was wagered on last year's three pools - the third-largest total in the history of the wager.

REGISTRATION FOR "ROAD TO THE ROSES" UNDERWAY - Registration for the popular "Road to the Roses" Kentucky Derby Fantasy Game is underway at www.roadtotheroses.com and the first scoring race of the competition looms this weekend.

Participants in the online fantasy game can win great prizes that include a VIP trip to the Derby or one of three qualifying spots for the Daily Racing Form/ NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas in Jan. 2006.

The first scoring race in the "Road to the Roses" Fantasy Game is the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, Feb. 12.

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